Urgent upgrade and repair of a multi-purpose surface analysis system

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INSTRUMENT & RESEARCH PROGRAM DESCRIPTION. Research in interfacial electrochemistry, surface and materials science, colloid science, fuel cells, micro-fluidic devices, and nano-science and nano-technology conducted in our laboratories at Queen's and Trent University requires a fully operational surface analysis system comprising XPS, AES, SAM, and SEM. It is used to study (i) surface structure, (ii) surface chemical composition, and (iii) electronic properties of metals, semiconductors, colloidal materials, and nano-wires and nano-dots. The requested upgrade and repair will allow us (i) to modernize the obsolete data acquisition and analysis system, and (ii) to perform an urgent repair of a vacuum gauge. The upgraded system will be used to study: (a) surface-chemical composition of oxide layers formed on several transition metals (Pt, Pd, Au, Ni Ti, Zr); (b) adsorption behavior of S, As, Bi, Se and Te on metallic electrodes; (c) self-assembled meso- and nano-structures on semiconductors; (d) organic solar cells and electroluminescent diodes; (e) chiral interfaces; (f) surface-chemical modification of polymeric micro-fluidic systems; (g) competitive adsorption of anionic and oxygen-containing species on Pt and Au electrodes; and (h) surface compositions and oxidation states of high specific surface area materials. The equipment comprises several components urgently needed to make fully operational an existing surface analysis system.SIGNIFICANCE. The upgraded instrument will be used by several groups at Queen's and Trent Universities, which pursue highly innovative research directions. Some forty (40) graduate and undergraduate students as well as post-doctoral fellows will gain hands-on experience in modern experimental methodologies, thus enhancing their knowledge of modern surface-science and materials science techniques. The results gained from the research projects described in this application will contribute to a better comprehension of chemical and physical interfacial phenomena occurring in a variety of system that span from electrochemically formed thin layers, to nano-dots and nano-wires, to porous carbon materials and to microscopic analytical devices.